1. English Only
Is it right for you?

2. What is English Only A style of immersion
All classroom instruction takes place in English
All response takes place in English
All work is completed in English
All English all the time.

3. Is English Only the Best
Every environment is different
Assess your classroom
Do students spend more then 20% of the class time engaging the teacher in speaking or listening activities?
Do students spend more then 20% of the time engaging each other in conversation or listening activities?
Does the content being learned easily lend itself to group activities that would involve students speaking in English?
Does the content being learned easily lend itself to activities that would involve students in listening, interpreting and responding in English?
If the answers are yes, English Only may be right for you.

4. English Only: When Not to…
There are times when English Only may not be necessary, consider the following:
Do students spend more then 50% of class time on a regular basis on work that requires little or no interaction with the teacher or with peers?
Do students focus primarily on silent writing and reading exercises?
Do students have little peer to peer interaction?
If the answer is yes, English Only may not be right for you.

5. Going English Only
You choose an English Only classroom. What do you need?
Policy
It must apply to everyone who enters the classroom.
It should be published and accessible by everyone who participates in the classroom
All teachers, regardless of ethnicity, should adhere to the policy in your classroom
Be consistent, make sure all student understand the policy

6. Sample Rules
When establishing an English Only policy consider the following rules and three reminders
Always speak and participate in English.
Most important for the EO environment
Try to speak English in sentences.
Reminds students to try for longer more complete communication
Try to ask questions in English.
Encourages students to explore and learn to define English they need
Remind your friends to speak English.
Encourages peer support and positive peer pressure towards the policy

7. Other Policy Supporters
Don’t keep the policy in your classroom only
Put up signs outside the classroom
Reminds everyone your space is an English Space
Request acceptance from colleagues
Get colleagues on board with policy
Tell Administration
Let administration know about the policy.
Korean Embassy
When necessary provide a space where it is okay to speak Korean for those time when it might be unavoidable like emergency’s or visitors needing to make an announcement

8. English Only Classroom
Maintenance Strategies

9. Provide Language
Don’t assume students will speak English just because it’s the policy.
Make language posters to make language access able
Provide students with scripts on worksheets or index cards
Project language for specific assignments
Use the white board for language reinforcement

10. Time
Time is precious for teachers and making posters and cards takes time. Don’t do it yourself!
You have a classroom full of helpers
Have students make poster, cards, signs, and worksheets once a week or once a month
Encourages student ownership of the policy
It’s fun break from routine

11. Sample Language
Sentence Stems
I think …
It is …
This is …
That is …
I will …
I need …
I want …
I can …
We/he/she can …
Let’s …
Because…
Before…
After…
Next…
First, second,
third, last…
Question Stems
What is…?
What are…?
Who is…?
Where is…?
Can I …?
May I have…?
Will you…?
Will they…?
What do I do (first, second, third)
Can you repeat that?
Will you explain…?
What should I…?
When is…?
Where are…?
What will…?
Why?
Here are some sample stems that might be excellent for posters in your environment:

12. Positive Reinforcement
Praise don’t punish
Negative reinforcements turns students away from English
Positive Environments encourage speaking
Distribute verbal praise for all attempts to speak English, even when it might not be perfect
Model correct English to promote language production, rather then correcting misuse of Korean

13. Points System Use a points system to encourage English
Incorporates natural competitiveness in a positive way
Only provide points for speaking in English
Do not take away points for speaking Korean
Reward points loudly and noticeably
Have students keep track of points on a long term basis
Provide rewards for points over time, not immediately
Remember, at some time everyone should be a winner

14. Teaching Strategies Be prepared to teach English only
Find strategies and activities that all students can do in English
Graduate the difficulty of classroom activities to promote student success
Provide language necessary for specific tasks to allow all students to be successful
Make sure students understand how English is the focus of the activity

15. Discipline
Not the best, but if you must use discipline consider the following:
Provide a warning
Give students a verbal/visual warning to correct Korean speaking before disciplining, this will help students feel they have a chance for success within the system
Be Consistent
If you don’t follow your own policy, why should the students
Anytime you discipline for a specific offense, always discipline for that. It takes time, but makes the policy more effective long term
Encourage Students to Adopt the Policy
Let groups self monitor and self police

16. English Only
Final thoughts

17. English Only
There is no best practice for you classroom, your classroom practice the best for you!
Choose what works and be consistent
If it’s your policy, stick to it all the time
Support your students
Give them tools to be successful
Be creative
Find ways that make it work for you
A creative and flexible English classroom will always be more successful then on that is to rigid

18. Questions Please, feel free to ask any question you might have.
Sara Davila, six years teaching, three years professional EFL, can be contacted at
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